1000 UTC
Sarah and Emily were plucked out of the stormy Atlantic Ocean by
the Tall Ship sailing vessel STAVROS S. NIARCHOS (www.tallships.org)
which is on its way to Barbados where they estimate arrival on January 22.
Emily called her sister Jenna who reported that both Emily and
Sarah were inside their cabin with the hatch tightly closed when a huge rogue
wave washed completely over FIRE flipping it over. FIRE did not right and the
cabin began to fill with water. They swam out of the cabin, found that their
life raft had floated away, then crawled atop their barnacle lined overturned
boat where they hung on for the next 16 hours. At dawn a USCG Search and Rescue
(SAR) C-130 located the overturned boat and circled overhead until the Stavros
S. Niarchos reached FIRE and plucked Sarah and Emily out of the wintry
Atlantic. Both girls were as happy as Jenna has ever seen them.
The USCG has issued a warning to ships in the area to watch out
for FIRE's overturned hull.
Bill Butler
Shore Coach
At 1649 Hours GMT on Sunday 15
January 2006 a 406 Mhz EPIRB activation alert was picked up by the US
Coastguard registered to Boat No. 12 – American Fire Atlantic Challenge crewed
by American women, Sarah Kessans and Emily Kohl.
A full scale search and rescue mission was immediately launched, co-ordinated
by the US Coastguard with the assistance of Woodvale Events RHQ. Race
safety support vessel, Aurora was immediately diverted along with a UK Sail
Training ship by the name of Stavros S Niarchos. A fixed wing aircraft
was also sent up to search the area.
At approximately 0930 hours GMT on Monday 16 January 2006, Emily and Sarah were
located and safely rescued by the Stavros S Niarchos. They were found
clinging to the upturned hull of American Fire Atlantic Challenge but were
unharmed, if not shaken and desperately disappointed that their voyage should
end in this way.
It appears that American Fire Atlantic Challenge capsized in very extreme
conditions late yesterday afternoon. Sarah has confirmed that the hatch
in the top of the aft cabin was open when the boat capsized, which compromised
the watertight integrity of the boat and explains why it did not self right.
Emily and Sarah who are now onboard the Stavros S Niarchos are bound for
Barbados (ETA in to port to follow).
Posted16/01/06 11:53:45 AM